Well, it's sad but true. My beloved A1 is sick. It is currently convalescing at Canon Canada. After suffering a "hot pixel" (thank goodness it wasn't the dreaded 'dead pixel' or the far worse 'zombie' pixel), my camera is slated for a 15 business day stay at the infirmary, and will hopefully return home in good health.


Why does it always happen when they are so young?

Why does it always happen when they are so young?

I think it's like what humans also got - the children's disease like mumps, scarlet rash, measles etc... ;-)

Sorry to hear about your problems Metthew, todays production line is hurry up and human control along that line is more or less absent I think!

UPDATE:

Canon's Service:
Pros:Camera is back from Canon (Quickly)
Cons: They couldn't find the problem and nothing has been done.


They say it is an optical thing (like dust or glare). I find this kind of laughable. I know dust when I see it, and this isn't dust. Dust shouldn't show up in total darkness as a bright white dot.

unless I am wrong.

Ideas?

There have been some cases where a piece of dust has glowed white on people's cameras.

Even in total darkness...

but that was radioactive dust...do you have any of that where you live?

Ha ha ha ha... come to think of it, I am posting from Chernobyl

Here is a clip, let's hear what you all think?

(unflipped from M2) The dust is there in total black as well... will find some proof.

However, it's gone now I and I can't get it to come back...

www.notomatofilms.com/deadpixel.wmv

Holy crap, that's tiny. How do you notice something like that?

Even though it's tiny, if it was my camera, I would definitely want it fixed.

From the clip, it looks like you're using a 35mm adapter and have the gain turned on.

Can you post a short clip or screenshot with gain at -3 and the lens with no elements in front it?

Holy crap, that's tiny. How do you notice something like that?
I was thinking the same. I don't know if I'd have noticed that. But agree, if my camera was doing it (and who knows, it might be...) I'd want it fixed too.

Phillip, you have hit my problem

I can;t get the pixel to come back. I was indeed using a redrock and gain was turned on, but Neither had anything to do with it (gain might have but it wont come back)

if you feel like a longer download, look at this www.notomatofilms.com/Deadpixelexamined.wmv

The pixel is much more noticble on an HDTV, as the 1080 lines are downsampled to 720, and therefore, the pixel doubles in area.

Canon said it was optical, but I don't buy that. Watch the longer vid for confirmation.

<snip>
I can;t get the pixel to come back. I was indeed using a redrock and gain was turned on, but Neither had anything to do with it (gain might have but it wont come back)
<snip>

Try testing with various shutter speeds, gain settings and different backgrounds (bright light, lens cap on, etc...).

If you can't get the pixel to show up anymore, then this may have happened:
1. Canon guy can't see stuck pixel (for whatever reason).
2. Canon guy runs the service menu's pixel mapping program just in case.
3. Pixel mapping fixes the stuck pixel.
4. Canon guy sends it back without even knowing a problem was fixed.

I'm sure weirder things have happened...

In the sheet that came back with my camera, it said they "checked, cleaned and lubricated" whatever the might mean.

Matt -

Formally, hot pixels visible at gain higher than 0dB are not considered a defect. If you can not see that problem at 0dB or -3dB then it's OK. If you can not see hot spots at 6dB or higher gain, that's even better.

I had similar problem with some of my previous cams, but only with 12dB or higher gain. At 0 or +6dB hot pixels were invisible.

This phenomenon could also be induced thermally e.g. in hot room, on the beach etc.

All DSLR cameras, for example, suffer the same way. At ISO 100, 200 or 400, images are clean, but with 800 or 1600 you will notice some hot pixels under close inspection in Photoshop. They may be more or less visible depending on which component is affected (R, G or B).

That was very small

indeed it looks small, but it jsut hit me so hard on a 42" HDTV right smack in the middle of the frame.

It wasn't very hot out, but it was a little humid... think that might have soemthing to do with it? We were using gain, as well, but although it appeared around 6db of gain, it didnt vanish at 0 until we restarted the camera.

Matthew, just looked at your footage, and indeed you have a hot pixel. I had the same problem with my Sony TRV900 many years ago.

Mine only came up in progressive mode with a very slow shutter, but I spotted it early only, and simply returned the camera within 7 days - they were common enough so that people regularly checked for them once they open the box. Now, the problem is much less common (doesn't that make you feel better) so its not something you'd read about as an issue. Technically, manufacturers may try to call this acceptible, but on a camera used in a pro environment, such as the A1, it is not. A dead pixel on an LCD is one thing, not great, but on the image itself its quite another. Find a rep at Canon and stick with it until the unit is replaced.

This is one of those times where it would be key to have a Canon rep with a presence on these boards, a la Jan Crittenden. If this were Panasonic cam you had the problem with, I bet she'd be involved ASAP.

Where did you buy the camera? Hopefully an authorized dealer. If it is still within 30 days they may be able to exchange it. My dealer goes above and beyond to take care of me....especially on recent purchases.

Peace.

unfortunatly it's been overt 30 days, but I am gonna talk to them today. I have given them 10's of thousands... they owe me.

:P

I don't get it. I recently emailed Canon about the pixel with a link to the video clip... here is what I got in reply.

"Dear Mr. Matthew Nayman

Thank you for your e-mail inquiry regarding your XH A1.

Your e-mail has been received by the Customer Information Centre of Canon Canada
Inc. We understand your concern.

The "hot pixel" phenomenon usually occurs at long shutter speeds, when the CCD
is exposed longer, causing photosites that are more sensitive to light to appear
"whiteish". They may sometimes be different colours, but are typically
"whitish" to the naked eye.

We reviewed the video clip supplied through the provided URL and do not see a
hot pixel in the circled area. A hot pixel would have been apparent when the
area circled goes dark. On our system, a hot pixel does not appear in this
area. As this is the case the assessment by our Service Department appears to
be accurate. As the provided video footage does not show a hot pixel, we have
no reason to believe a hot pixel will surface in this area.

To verify your camcorder is operating to specification before an important
shoot, it is advised capture test footage in the recording environment before
the actual shoot. In the unlikely event you do encounter a hot pixel you may
reply to this message indicating this is the case. For your records, we
recommend retaining the Service Repair Form supplied by our Service Department
for the most recent inspection.



Should you require further assistance, please feel free to email us or visit our
customer support website at http://www.canon.ca







Sincerely,



David M.

Technical Support Representative

Customer Information Centre

Canon Canada Inc."


Am I nuts? I certainly see a pixel.... You all do to, correct? I am going to link this thread and send them a still with the area blown up. Can you all see that bright dot!?

Just to confirm, this is a link to the pixel... please tell me if you think it's dust or glare... it can't be!
www.notomatofilms.com/pixel.jpg

Hey guys! I managed to get the pixel to come back!

Hooray! I think....

Seems that I need a slow shutter speed and it will return...

www.notomatofilms.com/deadcamback.wmv

I slowed the footage to 25% so you can examine it more closely. I believe if you look at it next to my other footage, you will see the pixel is in exactly the same place.

To me it looks too small to be a pixel. Have you taken a still and blown it up to see it better? Dust maybe?

Good luck---Mike

Yes I looked Mike...

The fact is the lens is perfectly clean ,and dust would not show up when covered like that. Also, the pixel is that small... there are almost 2 million of em...

Please refer to my links 2 posts up, www.notomatofilms.com/pixel.jpg

Yes I looked Mike...

The fact is the lens is perfectly clean ,and dust would not show up when covered like that. Also, the pixel is that small... there are almost 2 million of em...

Please refer to my links 2 posts up, www.notomatofilms.com/pixel.jpg


I did look at your footage, all of it. When you blow up a frame, what does it look like? What is the shape?

Mike

It is squarish, just like a pixel. Because it's back now, after being profesisonally cleaned by canon, having the lens cleaned myself probably 5 times, and searching with a flashlight... it is not dust. Impossible.

Definatly pixel. I know this because it was not there on the tape when I was playing around, until I slowed down the shutter and turned up gain, then BOOM it appears... not just dust :)

It is squarish, just like a pixel. Because it's back now, after being profesisonally cleaned by canon, having the lens cleaned myself probably 5 times, and searching with a flashlight... it is not dust. Impossible.

Definatly pixel. I know this because it was not there on the tape when I was playing around, until I slowed down the shutter and turned up gain, then BOOM it appears... not just dust :)

First off, best way to prove its not dust is to shoot with the lens cap on. No light = no dust particles present (well, to be lit anyway).

At what gain setting is this thing showing up at? I'm not sure on this, but if the hot pixel only appears under gain usage at certain shutter speeds... it might be considered to be within operational limits. Don't have the manual in front of me right now though...

Well, this time it showed up at 12db and 1/12 of a second, but in the first clip it is at 6db and 1/24 of a second... that should be well within the operational limits of the camera...

okay, final test. Pardon the dorkiness of my voice on it...

Here you go. I can see it with the lens cap on.

Also, it was MUCH brighter through component, than via firewire... must be 4:2:2 vs. 4:1:1


www.notomatofilms.com/definative.wmv (84mb)